‘Mom’ Meeting: Can Chris Pratt Stay Forever?

Finally, Anna Faris’ real-life husband Chris Pratt gallops onto ‘Mom’ as a handsome, horseback-riding weirdo who romances Christy. One question: Can he stay forever?

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You know when you have something to look forward to and you live all of your days in anticipation of that one event? And then when it passes, you look around and wonder how you’ll emote excitement for anything ever again? Well, Chris Pratt’s long-awaited guest appearance alongside wife Anna Faris on Mom felt exactly like that. Can we revel in their on-screen magic a little longer?

Pratt plays Nick, Marjorie’s nephew who Christy encounters while feeding the meter outside the diner. Despite their awkward meet-cute and Marjorie making him off limits, Christy breaks the rules and visits Nick at his stables (because he’s a horseback riding instructor who lifts heavy saddles, naturally). Christy twists her ankle in the bathroom after her lesson, and she really breaks the rules with a literal roll in the hay. But don’t judge a book by its ruggedly handsome cover: Nick is crazy.

On their first date, he uncontrollably kisses Christy in the middle of a restaurant. You might be wondering, what’s the problem with that? Glad you asked. Saying Nick comes on strong would be an understatement. He calls Christy “babe,” says he’s going to marry her, and shows up to serenade her outside her apartment. Marjorie reveals that Nick spent time in a facility. But that doesn’t stop Christy from one last roll in the hay.

Going into Chris Pratt’s Mom guest spot, we had to know that it would be a one-time role. There was no plausible way his character would have been Christy’s latest multi-episode boyfriend or a contender for her endgame romance. However, that doesn’t mean Pratt’s role wasn’t pivotal for Christy’s future.

Nick helped Christy get her groove back—“19 months!”—and revived a side of her that had been suppressed by a constant wave of personal dramas. With her children behaving badly, her fight with Jill, and the never-ending cascade of chaos, there hadn’t been time to focus on anything other than keeping her head above water. Nick was the perfect antidote.

Also, Pratt’s appearance on the show woke up a part of the series that had been resting since Christy dated Candace’s dad last season. Anna Faris shines in romantic comedy settings, and we should consider ourselves lucky that Mom circled back to Christy’s love life with Faris’ ultimate scene partner. The pair met while filming 2011’s Take Me Home Tonight in 2007 and have been the subject of public affection (and, let’s be real, envy) since. It was only a matter of time before Hollywood’s cutest couple acted together again.

For some reason, Christy’s latest love interest felt different. I don’t know if it’s because Faris and Pratt’s innate chemistry is magnetic, but Christy had an undeniable spark with Nick—before things took a turn for the bonkers, of course. There were real stakes in Christy’s crush. Sure, their relationship wouldn’t be the healthiest pairing, per se, but I still have my fingers crossed that Christy and Nick’s romance will someday ride again. Preferably off into a sunset.

Next: 'Mom' Meeting: How Did Bonnie Become the Strong, Wise One?

When a show introduces a character that has the potential of becoming an important player, you perk up and take note. As Marjorie’s nephew, Nick is ingrained in the fabric of the series. Doesn’t it seem fated that Christy would find love with the troubled nephew of her AA sponsor? I might be getting ahead of myself, but if Christy and Nick married, Mom would take on a new meaning with another mother-daughter relationship to explore.

Chris Pratt can’t logistically remain on Mom long term (he’s a little busy lately if you hadn’t noticed), but in another life, in another era of sitcoms, his character would have probably stuck around. As much as we want Chris, er, Nick to stay in Christy’s life forever, he’ll likely end up Christy’s layover before meeting the stable forever person she’s meant to be with. And since Mom has never been about Christy’s romantic relationships, it could be a long flight.

What did you think of Chris Pratt’s guest appearance? Do you want Nick to return for more episodes? Sound off in the comments!

Mom airs Thursdays at 9/8c on CBS.